Gibson, Tonko divide along party lines on health-care repeal

The Capital Region congressional delegation divided along party lines to repeal the 2010 health-care overhaul — just like the entire House of Representatives.

Declaring “it’s time to start over,” freshman Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, joined a solid bloc of Republicans (plus three Democrats) in a symbolic vote to repeal the signature legislative accomplishment of President Obama and congressional Democrats. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, was one of 189 Democrats opposing the repeal proposal — the first policy clash in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Rep. Chris Gibson (Times-Union photo)

“I voted against this effort by House Republicans because repealing health care reform does not create jobs, it does not protect the middle class, and it balloons the deficit,” Tonko said after the vote. “The Affordable Care Act provides Americans with new benefits and protections that makes insurance more affordable and accessible – that’s why polls show most people are against a full repeal of reform.”

Gibson, who made health-reform repeal a key issue in his successful race against Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy, was pleased to deliver on his campaign promise.

“By voting to repeal the health care legislation passed last year, we’re one step closer to enacting health care reform that increases access to quality and affordable care in a way that does not result in a massive government takeover, harm small businesses, or step on our freedoms,” Gibson remarked.

Both lawmakers said that their middle-class constituents would benefit from their votes; Gibson said repeal would save them money, while Tonko said the reforms enacted last year already are paying off for Capital Region voters.

Rep. Paul Tonko (Diana Carlton/Hearst Newspapers)

“The facts are that health care reform protects the middle class, strengthens Medicare, and provides tax credits for small businesses so they can afford coverage,” Tonko said. “Repealing this law means health care companies can again cancel coverage when people get sick, and can deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions such as pregnancy and acne. Repealing health care reform also means that over a million young adults will be kicked off their parents’ plans and lose coverage altogether, and millions of seniors could be forced to repay the checks they received to help with their drug costs.”

But Gibson said he’s heard very different things from his constituents.

“My focus today was ensuring that I represent my district in Upstate New York,” he said. “Time and time again, I have heard from constituents that we need health care reform, but that this bill was not the answer. With health care costs continuing to rise at several times the rate of inflation, we simply must drive down costs.

“Yet, the bill passed last year would result in higher costs, higher premiums, and higher taxes, all while creating more burdensome regulations for health care providers and small businesses and expanding government. Changes to the Medicaid program will put an additional and untenable burden on states already facing difficult financial challenges. New taxes and regulations will hurt our small businesses, including the medical device industry, a sector of the economy where our region leads the country.”

Gibson said he will now work to “replace” the Democratic overhaul with one crafted by House Republicans

“Ultimately, I believe the fate of this repeal effort will hinge on the content and quality of the replacement bill,” he said. “I’m confident our replacement bill will include insurance reform for wider access to options and choices, medical liability reform, coverage for preexisting conditions and an assurance that coverage can’t be dropped when you get sick. I believe that when the American people see this replacement bill, which will be a patient-centered solution, and evaluate it against the government expansion bill, they will choose the replacement legislation.”

Democrats, however, have declared the repeal efforts dead. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says he won’t even bring up the House GOP bill. And even if some form of repeal could get through the Senate, it would not muster the 67 votes needed to override a presidential veto.

“Republicans are denying Americans the very benefits and protections they enjoy – and refuse to give up — as members of Congress,” Tonko said. “We should be focusing on job creation, not on weakening the middle class, our seniors, and our small businesses.”

Democratic operatives immediately took aim at Gibson, one of their top targets for 2012.

“Rather than listen to us and focusing on jobs, Rep. Chris Gibson today voted to put health insurance companies back in charge of our health care,” said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Chris Gibson voted to allow insurance companies to deny health care to children with pre-existing conditions, cancer survivors, to raise prescription drug costs for seniors and to eliminate tax breaks for small businesses. Voters now see that Rep. Chris Gibson has been on everyone else’s side, but ours.”